Who is Botic van de Zandschulp? Meet tennis star who knocked out Carlos Alcaraz at US Open 2024

2022 US Open winner Carlos Alcaraz was defeated in the second round.

In a stunning upset at the US Open 2024, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out in the second round by Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands. The 74th-ranked Dutch player defeated Alcaraz in straight sets, ending the Spaniard’s 15-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments.

This unexpected loss came as a shock to many, as Alcaraz was considered a top contender for the title despite recent setbacks in the Olympic final and Cincinnati tournament. The 21-year-old Spanish star had never before been eliminated from the US Open before the quarterfinals.

The defeat marks Alcaraz’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2021, when he was still a teenager. The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd was left in disbelief as they watched the 2022 US Open champion fall to an underdog opponent.

Who is Botic van de Zandschulp?

Botic van de Zandschulp, once ranked as high as world No. #22, has experienced a roller-coaster career. He first gained attention at the 2021 US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals as a qualifier, beating several higher-ranked players along the way. This run established him as a promising talent in men’s tennis.

The 28-year-old from the Netherlands, had a modest 11-18 record for the season coming into this week and had not won consecutive matches at a tour-level event in 2024 until now. His most notable Grand Slam achievement prior to this victory was reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2021, a remarkable run wherein he had to first go through the qualifiers and then proceeded to defeat several higher-ranked players, including Casper Ruud and Diego Schwartzman.

Also Read: Top five underdogs who have won the US Open title

However, the 28-year-old had been plagued with form prior to the US Open 2024. So much so that he made a candid confession post his disappointing defeat at the French Open: “I’m not looking forward to the matches at all,” said the Dutch after losing the first round in straight sets to Fabio Fogini.

Apart from reaching the finals at the Brawo Open, Zandschulp has suffered numerous first round exits this year and his latest one at the French Open pushed him to considering retirement from the sport, he no longer loved playing.

He found himself grappling with self-doubt after dropping out of the Top 100 just a month before the start of his clay court season. In an interview with NOS, he openly admitted, “I enjoy the training. But I’m dreading the matches.”

The Dutchman candidly discussed his struggles over the past 12 months, emphasizing the mental challenges that have plagued his game. He revealed that his coach, Peter Lucassen, also recognizes the mental block he’s been facing. “Peter finds it tough as well that I’m not looking forward to the matches,” Zandschulp added, highlighting the shared concern between player and coach.

Despite the poor performances, the 28-year-old decided to play the US Open where he had fond memories of his career best outing in 2021. Entering the tournament, engulfed with self doubt and questions over his career, Zandschulp played the match of his life to defeat four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz.

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